Grain-drill feed



May 14, 1929. E. A. JOHNSTON ETAL 1,712,797

GRAIN DRILL FEED Filed June 14, 1926 4Sheets-5heet l F111. 3 ILL'. gf -V 5&1

May 14, 1929. E. A. JOHNSTON E1' AL 1,712,797

GRAIN DRILL FE1-:U

Filed June 14, 1,926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14, 1929 E. A. JoHNsToN ET AL 1,712,797

GRAIN DRILL FEED Filed June 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,155 12740 l Eil/711. A /g l0 "l z il @l May 1.4, 1929 E.`A. JoHNsToN E1' AL 1,712,797n

' GRAIN DRILL FEED Filed Jue 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lil Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EEWARD A. JOHNSTON AND SHERMAN W. CADY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

TION 0F NEW JERSEY.

ILLINOIS, A CORPDRA- GRAIN-DRILL FEED.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1926.v Serial No. 115,710.

anisms, and seed feeding mechanisms. This invention relates to such a mechanism which employs a fluted feed wheelrotatable within a casing to discharge seed therefrom, and shiftable endwise through the casing to vary 4the rate of discharge of the seed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hopper discharging mechanism capable of long sustained and eflicient service by reason of its novel construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hopper discharging mechanism in which excessive wear will not cause the part-s to get out of alignment to such an extent that their operation will become irregular and unsatisfactory.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed regulator of novel construction for properly governing the rate of flow of seeds from the hopper discl'iarging mechanism and for desirable adjustment to any one of a plurality of positions for adapting the feeding device for handling seeds of different sizes.

Such hopper discharging mechanisms are usually employed in a structure which in chicles a series of them equally spaced along a driving shaft and beneath a single hopper. It is important, in this case, that all of the feedingor discharging mechanisms can be regulated alike, so that .they willall cease operation when the driving shaft 1s shifted to a certain position and so that they will all have the same effective seed discharging result inv whatever position of adjustment the seed shaft is placed. A further object of the invention is to provide a grain drill feeding device which may be advantageously and accurately adjusted after assembly to accomplish the above result.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a hopperdischarging mechanism in which the partsv will remain in vaccurately aligned condition throughout thev normal life of the grain drill. i

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevation of a hopper discharging mechanism constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hopper discharging mechanism taken on the section line 2 2 of I-Pigure 7;

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating in vertical section the relation of the feed regulator to the walls of the casing, taken on the section line 3 3 of Figure 7 g Figure i is an elevation of the feed regu later showing the means for .locking it in various positions; W

Figure 5 is an elevation of the integral construction of the tinted feed wheel and extended trunnion bearing for the follower;

Figure G is an end elevation of the follower showing the lugs which provide a three-point support for the follower;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the entire hopper discharging mechanism, showing the relation of the easing to the feed wheel;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the entire hopper discharging mechanism illustrating the ,relation of the follower and the feed regulator to the cooperating parts of the casing, and taken on the line 8-8 of Figm'e l;

Figure 9 is a detail view indicating the various positions to which the feed regu,- lator may be adjusted;

Figure l.0 is a longitudinal vertical scction through the casing illustrating the manner in which the closure plate is rotatably coniined;

Figure 1l is a sectional view taken upon the section line llmll. of Figure l0;

Figure l2 is a view somewhat in. the nature of a diagrammatic View showing a portion of a grain drill hopper with a se'ies of the illustrative hopper discharging mechanisms applied thereto;

Figure 13 is an elevation of the end of one of the feed wheel assemblies indicating -the manner in which the insertable 1 the manner in which the insertable shims Cri arelocated in position on the feed shaft; and

Figure 16 is a .detail view showing in elevation the rrelationship of vparts when an insertable shim `is used for correcting irregularities of the hoppei` discharging mechanisms herein shown. Y

The illustrative hopper discharging mechanism includes a casing whichjis adapted to be secured to the bottom of a hopper for holding asupply of seeds. NVithin the casing a feed wheel is mounted forA rotatively .discharging seeds from the casing. Iliasseparately treated below.

The easing assembly. Preferablyy the 'illustrative casing comprises two sections, a primarysection 1 and a complementary section 2. These sections arefjoined so as to form a feed chamber 3.

' lThe primary'casing section is provided with a central opening 4. This opening issubstantiallycircular and is extended at three circumferentially spaced points gto provide guiding'notches or slots 5, 6 and 7, the function'of which will hereinafter appear. An integral projectionV 8 isformed on the primarycasing section l. This projection affords a sloping wall of a feed chamber for suitably,'guiding the contents of the chamber.

' The' primary easing section 1 is also provided with a curved detlecting wall 9, a boot supporting lug 10, anotch 11 fora purpose hereinafter referred to, andv lateral eatensions 12, 13 andlt bored to receive securing means. vIt is also provided with an integral stop r15 and shoulders 16-and 17 for promoting the eil'ective interlocking of the casing 'withfthe'liopper with which it is associated in practice. A pivot boss 18 is also 1formed Aasa unitary extension on the primary casing section. y j y t Therelationof the complementary casing section 2vto the primaryV casing section' 1 is wellillustrated.injFigures 1 and 2 of the annexedv` drawings. Preferably, the complementaryvcasing section is a casting secured to the primary vcasing Vsection by means hereinshoiwn'as rivets 19. The complementary caslngsection corresponds 1n general 74Voutline to the ,outline of the'primary section and is formed with attachment projections rintegrally on the casing section 2.

or lugs 20, 21 and 22 corresponding to and contacting with similar lugs upon the primary section. As shown in Figure 7, the complen'ientary section is also provided with a pivot boss 23, disposed directly opposite the pivot boss 18. Forwardly of the pivot boss 23 is a reinforcement boss 24 formed in a projection 25 which is extended from the complementary section to adequately maintain a boot supporting lug 26. Breakage of the projection is prevented by the reinforcement rib 27 herein shown as an integral )art of the section 2, and. forming substantially a radial projection of the circular rib 28. The upper part of the section 2 is formed with shoulders 29 corresponding to similar shoulders 16 and 17 formed upon the primary section. Between the shoulders 29 is an upward projection 30 adapted to extend into the grain drill hopper. In practice, suitable securingr elements pass through the flanges 3l andv into the bottom of the grain drill hopper.

In order that the two sections of the casing may be maintained in correct relative positions, and to provide proper interlitting of the sections, the section 2 is formed with the curved rib 32 closely contacting with the curved wall 33 of the primary section.` Opposite the rib 32 there is shown another flange or rib 34 contacting with the sloping wall of the projection 8 of the primary seetion. These ribs are plainly shown in Figure 10. In this figure the complementary casing section 2 is viewed from the interior of the hopper discharging mechanism. As here viewed, spaced adjusting recesses and 36 are shown, the former being opposite the reinforcement boss 24, shown in Figure 7.

As indicated in Figures 7 and 11, the circular rib 28 provides a flange on section 2 extending radially inward of that section. Section 2 also is provided with a circular recess 37 in which a scalloped closure plate 3S is rotatable. This closure plate is held in position between the two casing sections, as indicated in Figure 11, and is protected by an arcuate ribV 40 herein shown as formed This rib 40 prevents the material handled from having access to the bearing surfaces on plate 38 and the casing section 2.

The closure plate 38 is mounted within the. recess 37 prier to the joining of the easing sections 1 and 2. For the purpose of holding the plate 38 within the recess 37, a retainer, herein shown as a rivet 41, is mounted on the casing section 2. The head 42 of this rivet has a surface parallel to a portion of the inner flange 28, this flange and the rivet headthereby forming parallel retaining surfaces for the closure plate 38. lVhen the casing sections are joined as indicated in Figure 11 the projection 8 of the primary section engages the plate 38 at points sublll() llil lill

tour of the plate being such that it will closely receive the tinted feed wheel to be laer t \...-cribed.

ln order that hopper dischaugingil mechanisms of the lrind `here disclosed may be adapted for the suc essi'ul handling' of grains and seeds of various sizes, it is desirable that means be provided for varying' the size of the discharge throat. lli certain of discharge throat may be suitable for deliv- (iii-'nire` a small stream of small seeds, but would involve the crushing` and breathing` of seeds of much larger size. For instance. a hopper discharping` mechanism provided with a small throat for successfully planting a relatively small quantity of Wheat pei-acre would not be adapted for the hani'lling.; et' such seeds as beets, peas and beans.

it is also a desideratum ofhollioer discharging mechanisms of the charac dimlosed` that means be provided which will allow the dumping or completeelimination. of dust1V dirt and seeds which may remain pocketed in the casing` alter the user has finished with the normal planting` operation. ln the illustrative `mechanism means for accomplishing the above mentioned results is provided in the form of a feed regulator 4-5 preferably mounted between the parallel walls 46 and l? `of the casing;l assembly. ills indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. this feed regulator mounted upon a pivot member herein shown as a cotter pin i8 extending` through the opposed pivot boses i8 and ln Figure 3 there are also indicated the flanges t9 and 50 formed on the feed regulator and bored to receive the cotter pin. llor the` purpose of permit-- tine; the feed regulator to remain in close contact with the arcuate wall 33 of the casing` assembly, the feed regulator is provided with a hood l, as particularly shown in higure 8 of the drawings., The hood is curved so as to maintain the proper relationship of the feed regulator to the casing wall in all positions of adjustment. rlhe forward end of the feed regulator has a slant-ing' edge, as shown at l', for preventing bunching,` of seeds.

ller planting` small seeds, the feed regulator is moved to the position indicated in `feed insulator in dotted lines in Figure 9, wherein it engages the stop heretofore described. F or planting large seeds the .feed regulator is moved to the position shown in full lines in Figures 8 and 9. It may also be moved to an intermediate position for plantingl seeds of mediuin size.` For effectively maintaining); the

.n any one of the above described positions of adjustment, a simplilied locking device, herein shown as a piveted latch 52,. isprovided. This latch is preferably pivoted upon the regulator for movementY toward either Vof the parallel wallsY 16 and ofthe casing. ln Figure 3 of the .di-animos, the latch .f'2'is shown as having` its end en ring;` the lowest notch in the casine; wall 41:6.A This is the position` of adjustnient adapting` the hopper discharging mechanism for the plant-iup]A of seedsnof larger size. ll'vlhen it desired to plant seeds of :intermediate size. the latch 52 is swungl toward the wall 47 and the feed regulator is `moved upwardly upon its pivot so that the latch may enter the notch ll. 4The smallest l seeds are handled when the latch 52 positioned within the notch 3G on the wall d6. lllhen-it is desired to allow all accumulations of material to be eliminated from the casing, the latch may be moved to an intermediate position. and the feed regulator moved .downwardly about its pivot 4S until itis in substautially vertical position. as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. All undesirable `accumulations may then drop from the casing, which will, therefore, not be unduly deteriorated by rust and corrosion promoted by such acctunulations.

The feed wheel assembly.

, on a driving and controlling element herein shown as a drivingl shaft 53, which is preferably of square cross section. The element for actingt upon the material in the casing to discharge it therefrom is shown as the feed wheel 54; non-rotatiyely mounted with relation to the driving` shaft 53. This feed wheel has projections upon its circumference forming corrugations or liutes 55 for promoting adequate Contact with the materia-l within the casing.

' Undue wear with its consequent misalignnient of parts and Virregular dischargingof grain and seeds is minimized in the' present .form of hopper discharging mechanism by' providing the feed Wheel 54 With a relativelyV long bearing trunnion 56 herein I so as to form a` hardened bearing surface,

and the trunnion is formed internally with a square bore 57 closely receiving the shaft 53 and forming an elongated contact surface. Opposite from the bearing trunnion, and formed within the fluted portions of the feed wheel is a circular recess, or spring housing, 58,l which plays an important part Y in the production of a compact feed Wheel chamber.

assembly. This compactness Will'be appreciated as of considerable importance, in

I view of the fact that it is desirable to closely varrange a large number of such assemblies upon a single feed shaft. In many of the larger grain drills as many as 28 of the illustrative feed Wheel` assemblies are arranged on siX inch centers beneath a single hopper, lll ofv these assemblies being arranged upon a single feed shaft. The feed Wheel Vjust described is particularly well shown in Figures 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawin s. Y

n In practice, the fluted portion of the feed Wheel is so arranged that it can be moved Within the feed chambery or casing to regulate the discharge of seeds or other material from the grain drill hopper. In the present instance, the feed shaft is slidable in thedirection of its length to project the feed Wheel at different distances Within the feed As the feed Wheel moves out- Wardly of the feed chamber a discharge of increasing size would allow the seeds to drop indiscriminately from the hopper unless means Were provided forshutting off vthat discharge. yThe illustrative follower,

or cut-off block, 59 moves with the feed wheel to accomplishtliisvpurpose As the v `feed- Awheel assembly (see Figure 2) is this purpose. Y

moved toward the right to decrease the discharge of material from the hopper, the cut-off block 59 moves witliit, preventing the flow of material from the hopper by gravity. The illustrative cut-off block has radial projections 60 and 61 constituting upper and lower cut-offs for accomplishing The cut-offs, or radial projections, 6() and 6l act in conjunction with a third radial projection, or guide, 62 to properly maintain the cut-olf block in correctlyv centered position relative to the feed chamber and casing section l; The edge of the opening 4' in this casing' section'corresponds to the surface of the follower and its estensione o1 minimum.

The cut-off block is mounted upon the bearing trunnion 56, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and, by reason of the relatively great length of the bearing trimnion, misalignment of the parts with its consequent ill effect upon the feed of material from the hopper is reduced to a The cut-olf block is of substantially the same length as the bearing trunnion 56 and is formed integrally with in- Wardly projecting portions constituting the relatively Widely spaced bearings 63 and G4. The structure of the cut-off block, or follower, 59 is Well indicated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 8 of the drawings.

It has been proposed to construct ho )per discharging mechanisms for grain t rills having an upper cut-olf somewhat similar to the upper cut-off 60, above described. Cutolf blocks have also been iliade having a gate similar 'to the lower eut-olf 6l of the present disclosure, but structures made in accordance with such proposals have been found to be defective. In such structures the end of the upper cut-off strikes the closure plate 38 and is forcibly pressed against that plate when the feed shaft and its feed wheels are moved to the right hand limit of their paths of sliding movement. Such pressure has had a tendency to tip the cut-off block out of its correct operative position and such tipping has been particularly objectionable in hopper discharging mechanisms which have been used for any great length of time. Such mechanisms have been provided with only a short single bearing surface between the elements corresponding to the feed wheel 54 and the cut-oil` block 59, and, by reason of this arrangement, a feed wheel assembly has been subject to center sagging and excessive tipping of the nature above indicated. In the present instance, such tipping of the parts when the feed wheel assemblies are moved to inoperative posit-ion is prevented by providing a plurality of stops on the cutoff block 59, said stops contacting with the closure plate when the feed wheel assembly is moved to the extreme right hand limit of its sliding movement, (as shown in Figure 2). The illustrative cut-off block is provided with two dialnetrieally opposed stops located in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft These stops 65 and 66 are formed, respectively, b v the end of the upper cut-off 60 and the end of the guide 62, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. It is within the inventive scope of the present invention that a greater number of such stops may be provided, the essential idea being that the lateral pressure of agrain drill hopper is shown and that, inv practice, a much greater numberfof the 'hopper discharging mechanisms may be attached to the same hopper. .It'will alsobe understood that a smalleror greater number of the Vadjusting washers may be applied to each feedV wheel assembly. n These washers are preferably made of thin gage sheet metal so that they may beeasily removed by tear'- ing. In practice, when the grain drill parts are assembled as indicated in Figure 12, an inspection is made to determine the variations in the settings of the feed wheels.` If it is found, for instance,-that some feed wheels, (A and C for instance, in Figure 12), come to fully closed or shut-off position before the other feed Wheels, the inspector bends. the edge of a washer of each of the prematurely closing feed wheels, grasps the washers with pliers and tears them from the shaft. The spring thereupon forces those feed Wheels closer to the stops 68 to an extent depending upon the thickness of the 'washer removed. If still further'adjustnient of the feed wheel setting is required, othery washers may be removed in the same manner.

If the inspector finds that a few 'of the feed wheels comete full feeding position prematurely, it is necessary to add to, rather than substract from, the total amount of spacing for those prematurely opening feed wheels. Means are provided for accomplishing this result without removing any parts or disassembling any portion of the mechanism shown, `Ushaped shiins 72 serve the purpose of additional spacing means to accomplish the above indicated results. These shims are preferably constructed of thin sheet metal and are formed with aslot, or notch, 7 3 adapted to closely 'receive the shaft 53, vthe prongs 74 forming pointed guides for assisting in the installation'of the shims.

The' springs 70 allow the feed wheels to be rshifted manually away from the stops 63 so that the shiins may be slipped over the shaft 53 into position between the washers71 and the stops 68, as indicated in Figures 12, 13, and 15 of the drawings. After a shim 72 is positioned'as shown in Figure 13, theA prongs 74 are bent or hooked around Vthe stopv 68, as plainly shown in Figures 15 and 1G of the drawings, thus securely positioning the shim on the shaft. If an adjustment of an extent greater than the thicknessof one shim is required on any feed wheel, a plurality of shims may be applied and locked in position in the same manner. Y

By reason, of the .spring resisted sliding movement which the feed wheels mayV have, it is possible for all of the feed wheels of a grain drill to be accurately set in the field as well as inthe factory, and temporary adjustinents are also feasible in case an adequate supply of the shiins 72 is not on hand. The user may, for instance, simply manually push a feed wheel against the force of the spring 70 and insert a stick, a nail or a piece of wire between the stop 68 and the washer 71, the action of the spring, (when the feed wheel is released), hol( ing any such improvised spacing means in place.

By way of illustration of the above described manner of accurately setting the feed wheels,v Figure 12 of the drawings shows the unit C as provided with four of the shims 72, while the other units A, B and I) are each provided with three of the adjusting washers 71.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details of construction, arrangement' and mode of operation shown in the drawings, since the same may be variously modified to suit different conditions or requirements niet iii actual practice, Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be advantageousl)v used m various different combinations and sub-combinations.

I-Iaving described our invention, claim:

1. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing having parallel walls, a rotary feed member mounted in said casing, a feed regulator interposed het-ween the walls of the casing and movable relative to the walls and to the feed member, and means mounted on the feed regulator and cooperating with the walls of the casing to hold said regulator in any one of a number of different positions of adjust- I ment.

2. In a hopper discharging mechanism for gram drills, a casing having parallel walls, a rotary flutcd feed wheel mounted `within said casing. said walls heilig provided with a plurality of opposed recesses, the recesses in the opposite walls heilig at different vertical positions, a pivoted feed regulator cooperating with said feed wheel and mounted between said walls, and means mountedv upon the feed regulator and cngageable with a recess in either wall to hold the feed regulator in any desired position of vertical adjustment.

3. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing, and a feed wheel assembly rotatable within said easing, said wheel shaft assembly comprising a feed shaft, a combined feed wheel and bearing truniiion non-rotatably mounted on said feed shaft, a. follower rotativelv receiving said bearing truniiion, a thrust plate mounted on said feed shaft and engaging the follower and the bearing trunnion, a spring surroundingthc shaft and seated within the end of the feed wheel opposite the bearing trunnion, and means normally fixed with relil lation to the shaft for holding the parts of the feed shaft assembly in operative condit-ion.`

4. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a rotary feed member, and a casing assembly substantially enclosing said feed member, said casing assembly comprising a primary casingsectioina com plementary casing section, said sections being interiitted so that they may be joined to form a feed chamber, a scalloped closure plate, one of said sections being formed with a circular recess in which said closure plate is rotatable, said closure plate being confined within said recess by contact with said sections, and a feed regulator movably mounted upon said sections `and cooperating with said :feed member, said feed regulator being provided with means movable from one sec tion to the other to hold the feed regulator in different positions of adjustment.

5. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a. primary easing section., a complementary casing section secured to the primary section, a fluted feed wheel operating within the feed chamber formed by said. sections, a shaft for supporting said feed wheel, said feed wheel having a reduced portion forming a bearing trunnion, a follower corresponding in lengt-h to the length of said trunnion and rotatively related thereto, said follower and feed wheel being slidable as a unit with relation to the casing sections to vary the discharge of said feed mechanism, a closure plate rotatively mounted within a recess in the complementary casing section and formed so as to closely fit the fluted feed wheel, said closure plate being interposed between said casing sections and allowing sliding movement of the feed wheel with relation thereto, a feed regulator interposed between said sections and pivotally mounted thereon, and means carried by the feed regulator for retaining it in any one of a number of different verti cal positions between the casing sections.

(i. In a hopper discharging ,mechanism for grain drills, a driving shaft, a fluted feed wheel rotatable with said shaft, said feed wheel being formed with an integral trunnion affording spaced bearing surfaces, a follower rotatively receiving said trimnion, a. thrust plate mounted upon said shaft and engaging the end of said trunnion, an adjusting washer mounted on said shaft, the end of said feed wheel opposite said trunnion being formed with a recess, a compres sion spring surrounding said shaft and entering said recess to engage the feed wheel, stops detachably secured to said shaft for confining all of the above mentioned elen ments within a certain portion of the length of said shaft, a casing surrounding the feed wheeland the follower, said casing being formed of a plurality of sections, one of said sections slidably and non-rotatively receiving said follower, the other of said sections being formed with a circular recess, a closure plate rotatively mounted within said recess and confined therein by contact with said sections, and a pivoted feed regulator mounted between said sections and movable a follower, said feed wheel being formed with an integral barrel extending the full length of the follower.

9.V A fluted feed wheel having an integral extension forming a bearing trunnion of a length substantially equal to the length of the feed wheel.

l0. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a fluted feed wheel construction formed with a iuted portion and a projecting trunnion portion, and a follower forming a bearing enclosing the feed wheel trunnion portion, said fiuted portion having a recess in oneend, said trunnion portion being opposite the recess and of a diameter less than the fiuted portion. j

1l. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing providing a feed chamber, a feed wheel rotatably mounted within said casing, a follower, said feed wheel being integrally formed with a bearing `trunnion extending substantially through said follower, said follower being non-rotatively but slidably related to said casing by means of three radial lugs.

12. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing, a rotary feed wheel within said casing, follower, a feed regulator pivotally mounted within said` casing so as to act in conjunction with the walls of the casing and the feed wheel to form a discharge throat, and means carried by the feed regulator for cooperating with the casing to hold the feed regulator in any one of a number of different vert-ical positions.

13. In a hopper discharging mechanism `for grain drills, a casing, a rotary feed member mounted in said casing, a feed regulator movable within said casing, locking means `mounted on the feed regulator for holding the feed regulator in any desired position of adjustment, and means formed in theopposite walls of said casing for cooperllO ating with said locking means, said locking means being swingable from one wall to the other. p

14. Ina hopper discharging mechanism forgrain' drills, a casing, a liuted feed wheel rotatable:bearing support for the feed wheel.

15. In ahopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing, and a feed shaft assembly rotatable within said casing,.said feed shaft assembly comprising a feed shaft,

r'a unitary feed wheel and bearing `trunnion mounted on said shaft, a follower rotatably receiving said bearing trunnion, and a thrust plate engaging said bearing trunnion.

16. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, a casing, and a feed wheel assembly rotatable within said easing, said feed wheel assembly comprising a feed shaft, a unitary feed wheel and bearing trunnion mounted on said shaft, and a thrust plate engaging the end of said bearing trunnion.

17. In a hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills, acasing, and a vfeed wheel assembly rotatable Within said casing, said feed wheel assembly comprising a feed shaft, a unitary feed Wheel and bearing trunnion mounted on said shaft, a follower located at one side of said feed wheel and rotatively receiving said bearing trunnion, a spring engaging aside of saidfeedwheel opposite kfrom the follower, and a thrust plate engaging the end of said vtrunnion. t

18. In a hopper discharging'mechanism for grain drills, a casing, and a-feed wheel assembly'rota-table within said casing, said feed wheelassembly comprising a feed shaft, a combined feed wheel and bearing trunnion nonrotatively mounted upon said feed shaft, a follower rotatably receiving said bearing trunnion, a thrust plate mounted upon said feed shaft and engaging the bearingptrunnion, stops upon said feed shaft to limit the movement of said combined feed wheel and bearing trunnion, and easily destructible thin metal adjusting washers mounted upon said feed shaft between one of said stops and said thrust plate.

19,7In a hopper .discharging mechanism for grain'drills; a casing; and a feed wheel assembly rotatable `within said casing; a

- stop secured to the shaft at each end of the feed'wheel assembly; said feed wheel assembly comprising a feed shaft,.a combined `feed wheel and bearing trunnion, ay follower rotatably receiving said bearing trunnion, a thrust plate mounted upon said shaft 'and engagingv the bearing trunnion, and

manually rupturable shims mounted upon said shaft betweenone of said stops and the thrust plate.

nism, a feed wheel driving shaft,

20. In a grain drill, a hopper, a plurality of hopper discharging mechanisms attached to said hopper, a feed wheel for each hopper discharging mechanism, a driving shaft passing through said hopper discharging mechanisms, pairs of stops for properly locating the feed wheels on the shaft, a spring on said shaft for yieldingly urging each feed wheel toward one of each of said pairs of stops, and shims insertable between each feed wheel and its stop after the hopper discharging mechanisms are assembled on said shaft.

21. In a grain drill, a hopper, a plurality of hopper discharging mechanisms attached to the bottom ofsaid hopper, a feed wheel for each of said hopper discharging mechanisms, a driving shaft passing through said hopper discharging mechanisms and feed wheels, a pair of stops detaehably mounted upon the shaft for properly locating the feed wheel of each hopper discharging mechanism, a spring mounted on the shaft between each feed wheel and one stop of each pair of stops, and driving shaft straddling shims insel-table between each feed wheel and the other stop of each pair of stops, said shims being inserted in the position indicated after the hopper discharging mechanisms are assembled on said shaft.

22. In a grain drill, a hopper, a plurality of hopper discharging mechanisms, a feed wheel for each hopper discharging met-haa pair of stops for each feed wheel, a spring,r between each feed wheel and one stop of each pair of stops, andU-shaped driving shaft straddli ng shims in'sert'ahle between the feed wheel and the other stop of each pair of stops.

23. In a grain drill, a hopper, a plurality of hopper (,liseharging mechanisms attached to the bottom of said hopper, a feed wheel in each hopper discharging mechanism, a driving shaft extending through said hopper dist-harging mechanisms, sto is detachably mounted on said feed shaft', springs on said shaft engaging the feed wheels, easily destruetible thin metal washers mounted on said shaft adjacent each feed wheel, and U-shaped shims insertable between each feed wheel and an adjacent stop after the hopper discharging mechanisms are assembled on the shaft, each shim being intel-locked with the adjacent stop.

24. In a grain drill, a hopper, a plurality of hopper discharging mechanisms attached to the bottom of said hopper, a feed wheel in each hopper discharging mechanism, a common driving shaft for said hopper dischargingmechanisms, a pair of stops for each hopper discharging mechanism, a spring for each hopper discharging mechanism, easily destructible thin metal washers Elfi mounted upon the shaft between each pair of stops, and U-shaped shims straddling the shaft and adapted to be inserted between each feed wheel and one of said stops after the hopper discharging mechanisms are assembled on said shaft, said U-shaped shims )eing bent into interlocking engagement with adjacent stops.

25. A hopper discharging mechanism for grain drills comprising, in combination a casing, a feed shaft, a follower slidably and non-rotatively related to the casing and having a substantially cylindrical bore having restricted portions near its ends forming bearings, and a feed wheel having a fluted portion and aV reduced cylindrical extension positioned within the bore of the follower and rotatably mounted by said bearings.

2G. A grain drill comprising, in combination, a wheel supported frame, a hopper supported upon the frame and extending trans- Versely of the frame, aplurality of hopper discharging mechanisms secured to the bottom of the hopper, a rotary feed wheel` mounted in each discharging mechanism, a common operating shaft extending through the hopper `discharging mechanisms and the feed Wheels, a pair of stops for each discharging mechanism secured to the shaft7 means interposed between each pair of stops for urging the feed wheel toward one of said stops, and a plurality of manually rupturable shims strung on the shaft and located between each eedwheel and one of said stops, said shims being removable from the shaft by tearing to secure uniformity of discharge of all of said discharging mecha nisms without disassembling any of said discharging mechanisms.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

EDWARD A. JOHNSTON. SHERMAN W. CADY. 

